End-gate.



PATENTED JAN. 2'1, 1903.

J. E. GIBBS.

END GATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

THE norms PE'IERS 00, Pumau'rno" WA5HINGTON, n, c.

Warren Stains Arnnir WFFICE.

JAMES EDNIN GIBBS, OF BRIDGE'WATER, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO G. P. EHRMANAND A. D. R. I-IANCI-IER, OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.

END-"GATE.

SEECIFIUACEIIQDI forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,107, datedJanuary 27, 1903.

Application filed eptemher 19, 1902. Serial No. 124,060. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES EDWIN Games, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Bridgewater, in the county of Rockingham and State ofVirginia, have invented a new and useful End-Gate, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to end-gates, and has for its object to provideimproved means for ad justably fastening end-gates and also tofacilitate the opening and closing thereof. It is furthermore designedto provide for preventing accidental disengagement of the fasteningmeans by jolting of the vehicle and at the same time to permitconvenient swinging of the end-gate upon its hinged support either topartially or entirely close and open the gate.

Nith these and other objects in view the present invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts, as Will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanyin g drawings,and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being under stood that changes inthe form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within thescope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of the rear end of avehicle-body having the improved end-gate applied thereto. Fig. 2 is aside elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the gate atits opened limit. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View taken through therear end of the vehicle and the end-gate. Fig. 5 is a detailcross-sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective view of the tumbler or ratchet-dog for locking the end-gatefastening against accidental looseness.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the vehicle-body,and 2 the improved end-gate, which is preferably formed of sheet metal,with a round bar 4; secured to the front face thereof and at its lowerend, the ends of the bar being reduced and projected at opposite edgesof the end-gate to form journals 4-. Suitable segmental end pieces 5 aresecured to the ends of the endgate,'so as to embrace the opposite sidesof the vehicle when the gate is closed. The bar 3 extends transverselybeneath the body of the vehicle and close to the same, so that theendgate may close fiat against the rear end of the vehicle-body. Ametallic plate 6 is secured flat against the bottom of the vehicle ateach side thereof and is provided with a pendent rearwardly-projectingbearing-eye 7 for the reception of the adjacent journal 4, thereby toform a pivotal or hinged connection between the end-gate and thevehicle.

By reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be noted that the bottomportion of the end-gate laps and underlies the rear end of the bottom ofthe vehicle-body, thereby 0bviating a vertical interspace between thebody and the end gate, through which portions of the contents of thevehicle might drop in shoveling the same out of the vehicle and over theend-gate.

For adj ustably fastening the end-gate to the vehicle a rock-bar 8 isapplied transversely across the rear side of the end-gate, near the topthereof, with its end portions journaled in suitable bearings 9, carriedby the endgate. At the middle of the rock-bar there is a handle 10 forconvenience in rocking said bar. Each end of the bar is projected beyondthe adjacent end of the end-gate and is provided with a rigid arcuatelatch-arm 11, the under concaved side of the latch being provided withratchet-teeth 12 and the upper convexed side of the latch being smooth,

with a notch or seat formed therein at or adjacent to the forwardterminal of the latch.

Connection between each latch-arm and the body of the vehicle is hadthrough the medium of an open or slotted keeper 14, preferably in theshape of a staple, which is driven into the outer face of the adjacentside of the vehicle-body and slidably receives the arcuate latch-arm,whereby the ratchetteeth on the under side of the arm are adapted toengage the lower side of the keeper, and thereby hold the endgate at anydesired position. It will here be observed that as both latch-arms arerigidly carried by the rockarm they will be simultaneously swung in avertical direction by turning the rock-bar Hence both latches may beconveniently engaged and disengaged from the keepers b manipulating thehandle 10.

To prevent accidental disengagement of the latches from the keepers,there is provided a dog, pawl, or detent 15, which is pivoted upon theupper arm or prong of one keeper and has a projection or cam portion 16,which is adapted to be thrown down into engagement with the top of thelatch, and thereby lock the same in engagement with the keeper, so as toprevent disengagement thereof by jolting movements of the vehicle. Forconvenience in turning the detent it is provided with alaterally-projecting handle 17.

When it is desired to open the end-gate, the cam is turned so as tobring the free hooked end into engagement with the smooth conveXed upperside of the latch-arm, thereby freeing the latter and permitting of theend-gate being swung upon its pivotal connection with the vehicle. Theend-gate may be closed by merely forcing the same inwardly, as theratchet-teeth of the latch-arm will ride over the keepers; but to openthe gate it is necessary to manipulate the handle 10, so as to rock thebar 8, and thereby elevate the latches out of engagement with the lowersides of the keepers.

To prevent the latch-arms from accidentally running out of the keepers,and thereby dropping the end-gate, the free end of the pawl, cam, 0rdetent is adapted to drop into the notch or seat 13 at the forward endof the latch-arm, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

As the latch-arms are rigidly carried by the rock-bar,one dog, pawl,ordetentis sufficient.

What I claim is- 1. An end gate fastener, comprising a keeper, anarcuate pivotal latch having its concaved side provided withratchet-teeth for engagement with the keeper, and also provided with aseat on its convex side, and means to hold the ratchet-teeth of thelatch in engagement with the keeper, and also capable of being turned topermit free movement of the latch across the keeper and to engage theseat to prevent entire disengagement of the latch from the keeper.

2. An. end gate fastener, comprising a keeper, an arcuate pivotal latchhaving its under concaved side provided with ratchetteeth for engagementwith the keeper and also provided with a seat near the free extremity ofits upper convexed side, and means pivoted above the latch With aportion normally bearing upon the upper side of the latch to hold it inlocked engagement with the keeper, and another portion lying infrictional engagement with the upper side of the latch and in the pathof the seat thereof when said means has been turned upon its pivot todisengage the first-mentioned portion from the latch.

3. An end-gate fastener, comprising an arcuate latch-arm having apivotal support for application to an end-gate, the under con caved sideof the latch-arm having ratchetteeth and its upper convexedsidebeingsmooth and provided at its free end with a seat, a keeperhaving means for connecting with a vehicle-body and provided with anopening for the loose reception of the latch-arm, and a detent pivotedupon the keeper with a portion constructed to bear against the upperside of the latch-arm and hold the same in engagement with the keeper,and capable of being turned to bring its free end into frictionalengagement with the upper side of the latch-arm to permit free movementthereof through the keeper and also to engage the seat and hold thelatch-arm.

4. An end-gate fastener, comprising an arcuate latch-arm having apivotal support for engagement with an end-gate, the under concaved sideof the latch-arm being provided with ratchet-teeth, and its upperconvexed side being smooth and provided with a seat at its free end, asubstantially U -shaped keeper to be driven into the side of the vehicleand loosely embrace the latch-arm with the ratchet-teeth thereof incooperative relation with the under side of the keeper, and a dogpivoted to the upper side of the keeper, and provided with a cam portionto bear against the upper side of the latch and hold v the same inengagement with the keeper, and also capable of being inverted to bringits free end into frictional engagement with the upper convexed side ofthe arm and into position to engage the teeth and lock the arm.

5. The combination with a vehicle-body, of an end-gate hinged thereto, arock-bar mounted transversely across the outer side of the end-gate andprovided with a handle for turning the bar, arcuate latch-bars rigidlycarried by the opposite ends of the rock-bar and working at oppositesides of the vehicle-body, the under concaved sides of the latcheshaving ratchet-teeth, and their upper convexed sides being smooth, oneof the latter being provided with a seat at its free end, keeperscarried externally by the opposite sides of the vehicle and havingopenings loosely receiving the latch-arms, and a detent pivoted to theupper side of one of the keepers and provided with a cam portion to bearagainst the top of the adjacent latch and hold the latter in engagementwith the keeper, and also capable of being turned to bring its free endinto frictional engagement with the top of the latch-arm to permit freemovement thereof through the keeper and also to engage the seat andprevent entire disengagement of the latch from the keeper.

6. An end-gate fastener, comprising a slotted keeper, an arcuate pivotallatch working through the slot in the keeper with its under concavedside provided with ratchet-teeth for engagement with the lower end ofthe slot, and also provided with a seat on its convexed upper side nearthe free end thereof, and a dog pivoted above the latch with anintermediate cam portion normally in engagement with the upper side ofthe latch to hold any one of the teeth in engagement with the keeper,the free end of the dog being in friction engagement with the top sideof the latch and in the path of the seat thereon when the dog has beenturned to disengage its cam from the latch.

7. The combination with a vehicle-body, of a pair of bearing-earspendent from the rear end and at opposite sides thereof with thebearing-openings disposed in front of the rear edge of the bottom of thebody and below the same, a rotatable bar disposed transversely acrossthe under side of the bottom of the body with 15 its opposite endsjournaled in the respective bearing-openings, and an end-gate securedfiat against the bar and movable therewith, whereby the bottom portionof the end-gate underlies and laps the bottom of the body 20 when open.

In testimony that I claim the. foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES EDWIN GIBBS.

Witnesses:

' S. G. DINKEL,

M. A. DAVIES.

